THIS year’s Ryedale Show notched up record entries and anticipated record crowds.

The 144th show was held at Welburn Park, Kirkbymoorside, yesterday and attracted some 250 trade stands.

Pat Harrison, one of the key organisers, said: “There’s certainly no sign of a recession here. “Farmers have in the past suffered them, but they tend to thumb their noses at the situation and live and work through it.

“Our fears that sponsorship may decline because of the recession proved ill-founded.”

Coun Tony Hemesley, chairman of Ryedale District Council, said the show had attracted many tourists. Coun Hemesley and his wife, Phil, judged the trade stands section at the show, which was won by Ray Chapman Motors.

He said: “The show highlights to the public where their food comes from because Ryedale’s core industry is farming.”

Auctioneer Alan Tate-Smith, the assistant general secretary and assistant show director, who takes over as secretary from Peter Woodall next year, said he planned to step up the show’s use of new technology in 2011.

Horse entries had this year been completed online, but Mr Tate-Smith wants to see more use made of the website next year.

He said: “We are running a business and, with that in mind, we have to embrace technology.”

Mr Woodall, who retired after 40 years as general secretary, was presented with a garden bench and made an honorary member of the society.